Firearm grip with selector switch lock

Abstract

A firearm grip with selector switch lock includes a handgrip for engaging a firearm receiver having a selector switch. A switch engagement unit is positioned within the handgrip. The switch engagement unit including a motor, piston, spring and detent for selectively engaging the selector switch of the receiver to which the handgrip is located. An RFID interrogator is positioned within the handgrip and communicates with a portable RFID chip. Upon detecting the presence of the RFID chip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the retracted position for manual free operation of the selector switch. Upon detecting the RFID chip is not within the proximity of the handgrip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the extended/SAFE position. A replacement selector switch having a torque limiter is provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking device for use with a firearm, said locking device comprising:
 a handgrip that includes an elongated member having a top end, an outside surface, and an interior space, said handgrip including a shape and size that is suitable for engaging a firearm receiver having a selector switch; 
 a switch engagement unit that is in communication with the interior space of the handgrip and is configured to selectively engage a portion of the selector switch located inside the firearm receiver to which the handgrip is secured; and 
 a control system that is communicatively linked with the switch engagement unit, said control system including functionality for transitioning the engagement unit between a retracted position or an extended position upon verifying a user identity, 
 wherein in the retracted position, the selector switch is manually transferrable between a SAFE position and a FIRE position, and in the extended position, the selector switch is locked in the SAFE position. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the switch engagement unit comprises:
 a motor that is secured within the interior space of the handgrip; 
 a piston having a first end that is in communication with the motor, and a second end that extends through the top end of the handgrip; 
 a spring that is secured about a distal portion of the piston; and 
 a detent that is secured along a distal end of the spring, said detent including a shape and size that is suitable for engaging each of a first and second dimple on the selector switch, 
 wherein the first dimple corresponds to a SAFE position of the selector switch, and the second dimple corresponds to a FIRE position of the selector switch. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the motor and the piston comprise a linear actuator. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the motor is configured to transition the piston between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein in the retracted position, the piston is not in physical contact with the detent, and
 the detent and spring are in communication with the selector switch so as to allow the switch to freely transition between the SAFE position and the FIRE position. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4 , wherein in the extended position, the piston is in physical contact with the detent, and
 the detent is secured within the first dimple so as to lock the selector switch in the SAFE position. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the switch engagement unit is configured to automatically transition the selector switch from the FIRE position to the SAFE position when in the piston is in the extended position. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an RFID interrogator that is positioned within the interior space of the handgrip. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an RFID tag that is not located within the interior space of the handgrip and that is configured to communicate with the RFID interrogator. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the control system includes functionality for instructing the engagement unit to transition to the retracted position when the RFID interrogator and RFID sensor are in communication. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the control system includes functionality for instructing the engagement unit to transition to the extended position when the RFID interrogator and RFID sensor are in communication. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a replacement selector switch having a thumb lever, an elongated cylindrical member, and a torque limiter positioned therebetween, 
 said replacement selector switch including a shape and size that is suitable for replacing the selector switch of the firearm receiver and for transitioning the same between a SAFE position and a FIRE position. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface that includes at least one of an RFID interrogator that is positioned within the interior space of the handgrip, a biometric authentication unit, or a combination lock. 
 
     
     
       14. A locking device for use with a firearm, said locking device comprising:
 a selector switch having a thumb lever, an elongated cylindrical member, and a torque limiter positioned therebetween, said selector switch including a shape and size that is suitable for being positioned within a firearm receiver and for transitioning between a SAFE position and a FIRE position; 
 a handgrip that includes an elongated member having a top end, an outside surface, and an interior space, said handgrip including a shape and size that is suitable for engaging the firearm receiver having the selector switch; 
 a switch engagement unit that is in communication with the interior space of the handgrip and is configured to selectively engage a portion of the selector switch located inside the firearm receiver to which the handgrip is secured; and 
 a control system that is communicatively linked with the switch engagement unit, said control system including functionality for transitioning the engagement unit between a retracted position or an extended position upon verifying a user identity, 
 wherein in the retracted position, the selector switch is manually transferrable between a SAFE position and a FIRE position, and in the extended position, the selector switch is locked in the SAFE position. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the switch engagement unit comprises:
 a motor that is secured within the interior space of the handgrip; 
 a piston having a first end that is in communication with the motor, and a second end that extends through the top end of the handgrip; 
 a spring that is secured about a distal portion of the piston; and 
 a detent that is secured along a distal end of the spring, said detent including a shape and size that is suitable for engaging each of a first and second dimple on the selector switch, 
 wherein the first dimple corresponds to the SAFE position of the selector switch, and the second dimple corresponds to the FIRE position of the selector switch. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the motor is configured to transition the piston between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein in the retracted position, the firearm selector switch is positionable in both the SAFE position and the FIRE position, and in the extended position, the firearm selector switch is locked in the SAFE position. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the torque limiter is configured to transition to an engaged position upon receiving a force greater than a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 15 , wherein in the engaged position, the detent is secured within the first dimple so as to lock the selector switch in the SAFE position, and an orientation of the thumb lever does not correspond to the position of the selector switch. 
     
     
       20. A locking device for use with a firearm, said locking device comprising:
 a handgrip that includes an elongated member having a top end, an outside surface, and an interior space, said handgrip including a shape and size that is suitable for engaging a firearm receiver having a selector switch; 
 a switch engagement unit that is in communication with the interior space of the handgrip and is configured to selectively engage a portion of the selector switch located inside the firearm receiver to which the handgrip is secured; 
 a control system that is communicatively linked with the switch engagement unit; and 
 a user interface having an RFID interrogator that is configured to receive an instruction to transition the engagement unit between a retracted position and an extended position, 
 wherein in the retracted position, the selector switch is manually transferrable between a SAFE position and a FIRE position, and 
 in the extended position, the selector switch is locked in the SAFE position.